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A Self-Assembled, Low-Cost, Microstructured Layer For Extremely Stretchable Gold Films, Tricia Carmichael, Heather L. Filiatrault, R. Stephen Carmichael, Rachel A. Boutette
A Self-Assembled, Low-Cost, Microstructured Layer For Extremely Stretchable Gold Films, Tricia Carmichael, Heather L. Filiatrault, R. Stephen Carmichael, Rachel A. Boutette
Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications
We demonstrate a simple, low-cost, and green approach to deposit a microstructured coating on the silicone elastomer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) that can be coated with gold to produce highly stretchable and conductive films. The microstructured coating is fabricated using an aqueous emulsion of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc): common, commercially available white glue. The aqueous glue emulsion self-assembles on the PDMS surface to generate clustered PVAc globules, which can be conformally coated with gold. The microstructured surface provides numerous defect sites that localize strain when the structure is stretched, resulting in the initiation of numerous microcracks. As the structure is further elongated, the …